Hog-catcher.



' J. 'scH'UsTEm HOG GATOHER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, 1908.

Patented 001;. 13, 1908.

0,. WASHINGTON. n. c.

JOHN SOHUSTER, OF CLAY BANKS, WISCONSIN.

Hoe-demonize.

Specification'of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

' App1ication filed February 17, 1908. Serial No. 416,314.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JOHN SCHUSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clay Banks, in the county of Door and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Hog-Catcher, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in hog catchers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of hog catchers, and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive device of great strength and durability, capable, whenengaged with the leg of an animal, of automatically gripping the same and of securely locking the grlppmg jaws in their engaging position.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hog catcher, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a hori zontal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. Fig. .4 is'a detail view of the inner end of one of the jaws.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

The hog catcher, which may be made in various sizes to adapt it for large and small animals, is equipped with a pair of jaws 1 and 2, pivoted by a bolt 3, or other suitable fastening device, to a hollow shank '4. The hollow shank 4 forms a socket for a removable pole 5, and it is equipped with an eye 6 for the attachment of a line 7, so that after a hog, or other animal has been caught, the pole may be used to permit the animal to be eld by the line.

The jaw 2 is provided withbifurcated inner and outer portions 8 and 9 to receive the inner and outer portions of the jaw 1, the bifurcated outer portion 9 permitting the outer terminals of the jaws to overlapwhen closed, whereby the leg of an animal is securely confined within the device. The inner bifurcated portion 8 of the jaw 2 is enlarged to receive the enlarged inner end or head 10 of the jaw 1, and the inner ends or jaws are provided with registering openings for the recep tion of the pivot bolt 3. The pivot bolt receives a coiled spring 11, connected at its terminals with the jaws 1 and 2 and adapted to close the same automatically, when the device is tripped, as hereinafter explained. In practice the spring will be of a strength to adapt it to the character of the kind of animal to be operated on by the device.

The inner or enlarged end 10, which is circular, is provided at its inner side or edge with a series of ratchet teeth 12, adapted to be engaged by an arm or engaging portion 13 of a trigger 14, pivoted by a pin 15 in the inner bifurcation of the jaw 2 and extending into the s )ace between the jaws 1 and 2, when the evice is set, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The toothed or engaging portion 13 is arranged at an angle to the body portion of the trigger, and when the latter is swung backward or outward in the direction of the outer portion of the jaw 2 until in contact with the leg of an animal, the engaging portion 13 is disengaged from the ratchet teeth, and the spring 11 automatically closes the jaws.

The jaws are automatically locked in their closed position by means of a dog 16, pivoted at its outer end in the inner bifurcation of the j aw 2 by a in 17, or other suitable fastening device an extending inwardly and rearwardly. The dog 16, which is curved longitudinally, is provided with a pointed inner end, which is held against the inner end or head 10 of the jaw 1 by a spring 18, secured at one end to the jaw 2 and having its inner end free and engaging the dog. 16 adjacent to a shoulder 19 thereof. The shoulder 19 is formed by a notch, and the free end of the spring is interlocked with the dog by the shoulder, and is disposed at an angle to the pivoted portion thereof to provide a space for an operating member 20, consisting of a rod provided with a central crank 21 and having an exterior handle 22. The rod is pivotally mounted on the inner bifurcated portion of the jaw 2, and it is adapted to be partially rotated by the handle 22 for swinging the spring 18 and the dog 16 outward to disengage the said dog from the jaw 1. This will permit the jaws to be opened and set in their op en position by means of the trigger 14.

The pivoted jaws are adapted to be arranged centrally with relation to the front end of the tubular shank 4, or they may be adjusted to either side of the same, and any suitable means may be provided. for maintaining them in their adjustment with relation to the shank 14.

The jaw 2- is provided at its inner end with side and rear notches 23 and a front opening 23 adapted to enable the jaw to be interlocked with a square lug 24, formed integral with the tubular shank. The front opening 23* is located in advance of the pivot and substantially centrally with relation to the opposite sides of the jaw. T ie nut of the bolt is loosened to permit the inner end of the jaw to be engaged with and disengaged from the lug of the shank 4, and by providing the side and rear recesses 23 and the front opening 23, the jaws may be set to operate either centrally of the shank or at either side thereol. This adjustment of the jaws with relation to the shank also enables them to be compactly arranged for storing or shipping. The lug prevents the jaws when set from swinging on the pivot, which connects them to the outer end of the tubular shaft. Any number of notches may be employed to secure the desired range of adjustment.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An animal catchero'f the class described including a pair of pivoted jaws, one of the jaws being provided with ratchet teeth, a trigger mounted on the other aw for engaging the ratchet teeth to lock the jaws in their open position, and a dog also mounted on the jaw, to which the trigger is pivoted, arranged for engaging the ratchet teeth to lock the jaws in their closed position.

2. An animal catcher of the class described including a pair of: pivoted jaws, one of the jaws being provided with ratchet teeth, a trigger mounted on the other aw and pro vided with means for engaging the teeth to lock the jaws in their open position, a dog also mounted on the j aw, to which the trigger is pivoted, for engaging the ratchet teeth to lock the jaws in their. closed position, and means -for automatically closing the jaws when the trigger is disengaged from the ratchet teeth.

3. An animal catcher of the class described comprising a pair of pivoted jaws, one oli-the jaws having its inner end bifurcated and the otherjaw being fitted in the bifurcation and provided with ratchet teeth, a trigger mounted-in the bifurcated jaw and having an arm -for engaging the ratchet teeth to lock the jaws in theiropen position, a spring actuated dogmounted in the bifurcatedjaw and ar.- ranged to engage the ratchet teeth forlocking the aws in their closed position, and an operating device forswinging the dog out of engagement with the ratchet teeth.

4-. An animal catcher of the class described comprising a pair of pivoted jaws, one ol' the jaws being provided with. ratchet teeth, a dog mounted on the other jaw and arranged to engage the ratchet teeth 'lor locking the jaws in their closed position, a spring secured at one end and having its other end interlocked with the dog, and an operating device mounted for rotary movement and havin a crank arranged between the dog and the spring for engaging the latter, said operet ing member being also provided with exterior operating means.

5. An animal catcher oi the class described comprising tubular shank adapted to r ceive a removable handle and provided with an ear for the atta ihment of a line, a pair of jaws pivoted to the shank, one ol the jaws being provided with teeth, a trigger mounted on the other jaw for engaging the teeth to lock the jaws in their open position, and a dog also arranged for engaging the teeth to lock the jaws in their closed position, said dog being carried by the jaw on which the trigger is mount ed.

6. An animal catcher of the class described comprising a pair oi pivoted jaws, one ol' the jaws having its ends bifurcated and the ot hcr jaw having its inner end titling in the inner bifurcation and provided with ratchet toot h, the outer end of the jaw having the teeth being arranged to extend into the outer bi'l'urcation when the jaws are closed, a trigger mounted on the bifurcated jaw l'or engaging the teeth to lock the jaws in their open position, and a dog also mounted on the bil'nr catcd jaw vlor engaging the teeth to lock the jaws in their closed position.

7. An animal catcher o'l' the class described comprising a shank provided with an integral lug, a pair of jaws pivoted to the shank, one of the jaws being provided with means for engaging the lug ol the shank, whcrelrv such jaw is adjustably inttrlockcd with the shank and held against pivotal movement, a trigger for holding the jaws in their open position, and means for closing the jaws.

8. An animal catcher oi the class described comprising a shank provided with a lug, a pivoted bolt mounted on the shank, jaws pivoted to the shank by the bolt, one ol the jaws being provided with side and red r notches and a front opening arranged to receive the lug, whereby such jaw is interlocked with the shank to set the aws either directly in front of or at either side of the shank, and means for operating the jaws.

In testimony, that. I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto allixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S( ll lUS'llCll.

itn esses M. T. PARKER, E. J. PARKER.

ll I 0 

